HTC unleashes products

Mobile device specialist, High Tech Computer Corp (HTC), yesterday launched three new ‘Smart Devices’ from its quarter two product portfolio.

Mobile device specialist, High Tech Computer Corp (HTC), yesterday launched three new ‘Smart Devices’ from its quarter two product portfolio. The products will be available in stores across the region by the end of this week. The three devices, known as the HTC Advantage X7500, S710 and P3400, each target a different segment of the Middle East’s burgeoning handheld market. The Advantage X7500 (pictured right) is a high-end device with an expected retail price of around US $1250; HTC staff at yesterday’s launch called it ‘the most powerful mobile office to date’. The device features both 3G and 3.5G support as well as GSM, GPRS and EDGE capabilities. It also offers an 8Gbyte hard drive, features a 5-inch LCD screen and a three megapixel camera, the latter of which can be used in-conjunction with software to act as a business card scanner. At present the device is being sold with Windows Mobile 5.0. The S710, priced at around $599, targets the mid-range segment of the mobile market and resembles a traditional smartphone. It’s equipped with a sliding keypad, which HTC staff reckon make it perfect for use as a compact yet stylish messaging device. This device is the only model to currently offer Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 6.0 OS out of the box. Vishnu Vardhan, the executive director of HTC Middle East and Pakistan said the S710 “is ideal for either business or pleasure”. Targeting entry-level users is the P3400, priced $408. Shaped around a standard PDA design, this product is equipped with phone functionality and boasts features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Windows Mobile 5.0. HTC employees said that this model would be best used as an all-purpose business device. In an exclusive interview with Windows Middle East, Kevin Chen, the general manager of HTC Middle East, Africa and CIS regions said, “Though HTC launched in this region fairly late, the response we’ve had so far has been very impressive. The Middle East market shows a lot of potential, the people here like fancy and trendy products.” Asked about HTC’s long term plans, Chen explained, “The HTC brand is our long term plan and we will develop it”. When quizzed about Windows Mobile 6.0 compatibility with the HTC Advantage X7500 and P3400, Chen said that the devices can be upgraded. He also stated that Arabic support for the three models would be ready by the end of this month.